Write or Wrong (Common Threads #9)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

GLITCH

ASA

The first thing he noticed about Zara’s family was how excited they were to see her.

He may as well have not even been there.

Her dad, a happy man with thick black hair, brown eyes, and a bright smile, hugged his daughter and then held her face in both his hands. He said something to her that Asa couldn’t hear and then hugged her again.

A woman who had to be her stepmom did exactly the same. And then a younger version of Zara except with brown eyes shoved her way to the front and threw her arms around Zara. Zara stepped back at the force and belted out a laugh he wasn’t sure he’d ever heard from her before. The brother rolled his eyes and when it was his turn for a hug, Zara grabbed his cheeks and squished them before hugging him tight to her.

Then Cas came barreling through the door and Asa wished he had it on video.

The family turned as a unit towards Cas and all of them reached their arms his direction calling, “Cas!”

The bodyguard’s face flushed a deep red as he was hugged and patted with affection.

A whisper at his side had him glancing over. Devan stood at his shoulder with a smirk on her face, enjoying Cas’s discomfort as well. No one tried to hug Devan Asa noticed.

“Who are you?” Zara’s sister asked, stopping in front of Asa with narrowed eyes.

He opened his mouth to answer but Zara beat him to it.

“This is Asa. He’s my friend who’s staying here for a little while,” she introduced quickly. “Asa, this is Bianca, Oscar, my dad, and my stepmom Renata.”

Her dad stepped forward to shake his hand.

“Nice to meet you Zara’s dad,” Asa greeted. What? He couldn’t call him Mr. Lorna. There was no way that was her last name let alone his.

“Call me Tony,” her dad replied with a smile. The handshake lasted all of two seconds before her dad was ooing and ahhing over the house.

Devan tugged on Asa’s sleeve and they backed toward the stairs. “This will be awhile,” she said.

Ah. That made sense. He nodded and glanced back at the crowd of people in their once quiet home. Everyone was speaking all at once and Zara’s overjoyed expression let him know she was more than happy with the surprise. He headed for the stairs and turned around for one more look.

Zara’s eyes met his through the bodies and she lifted her eyebrows like she just remembered he was there. He smiled and flicked two fingers at her. He didn’t want to interfere with the reunion.

They’d be able to talk about what had just happened later. Not in front of her entire family and Cas and Devan.

He made it to his room and closed the door.

What a day.

From beginning to end, none of it had gone like he’d expected. It was a break in the routine. And he wasn’t freaking out.

And for a moment there, Zara’s lips had been connected to his and it felt so damn right.

Sleep that night had not been restful. His dreams were filled with honeyed kisses and soft skin. His alarm went off and he practically skipped to the shower.

Once again, unconcerned that he’d lost sleep over Zara.

He showered, shaved, and put on his Illuminati Hotties t-shirt with jeans.

Climbing the steps to the kitchen, he listened for any sounds that might indicate anyone else was awake.

Cas came into view as he entered the kitchen. The big bodyguard sat at the island with his prop coffee in front of him. He tipped his chin up at Asa and Asa considered that an absolute win.

He wondered if Cas and Devan had stayed the night after Zara’s family had arrived but didn’t ask. He wouldn’t get an answer anyway.

Asa went about making his own coffee.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” came a disgruntled teenage voice behind him.

He turned around. He tried, he really did, but he couldn’t stop the automatic smile at seeing that Bianca’s hair did the same thing that Zara’s did in the morning.

She was in an oversized black t-shirt and gray sweatpants. Her eye makeup was smeared across one side of her face.

“Coffee?” he asked, taking another cup out of the cupboard.

“Yes,” she said, but she made it sound like he’d just asked her the stupidest question in existence. She slid onto a stool next to Cas and eyed the big man. “Did he make you coffee too?”

Cas patted the top of her head, eyeing the epic hairstyle. “No.”

She huffed.

Asa hid his smile as he started another cup. He retrieved the half and half from the fridge, grabbed the sugar bowl and a spoon, and placed them in front of Bianca along with the steaming cup.

“Thanks,” she muttered, eyeing him suspiciously. She spooned several scoops of sugar into the cup. “So, Asa ,” she said his name like she didn’t believe it was his real name. “Are you mad that we’re here?”

He grabbed the half and half with a frown. “No. Why would I be mad?” He flicked his gaze to Cas who lifted an eyebrow and almost shrugged one shoulder.

Bianca took her time answering as she watched him stir the half and half into his coffee.

“Because we weren’t allowed to stay with Zara when Logan was around,” Oscar said, entering the kitchen.

Asa turned his body to the side. “Seriously?” he asked. He knew Logan was a dick, but come on.

Oscar slid onto the stool on the other side of Bianca. Asa hesitated for exactly one second before making another cup of coffee for the fifteen-year-old.

Oscar’s hair was jet black and sort of long on top, a rooster tail of some significance stood straight up on the left side of his head. Already tall, he was close to if not six feet. But he still had that gangly, loose-limbed body that young men had.

Asa put the full cup down before Oscar, and Bianca pushed the sugar his direction.

“Logan didn’t like us,” Oscar said. “He always stayed up in his room when we came over. He never wanted anything to do with us.”

“That’s because we could see through his bullshit,” Bianca said, aiming a pointed look at Asa.

Asa curled a lip before taking a sip of his coffee. He probably shouldn’t voice his opinion buuuuut … “That’s so stupid.” He shook his head and sniffed. “Every time I hear something about that guy I’m surprised no one has kicked his ass yet.”

“Oh, he better hope he never runs into me,” Bianca said, lifting her cup. “Because it’s on sight.”

Asa chuckled. Despite Bianca’s obvious distrust of him, he really liked her. “Hey, you guys want breakfast?” he asked, getting back in the fridge for eggs.

“I could eat.” Oscar shrugged.

Bianca rolled her eyes.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Asa said.

Thirty minutes later he placed a huge bowl of scrambled eggs on the island, along with a stack of plates, sliced peppers, shredded cheese, blueberries, and some chicken sausage he’d found in the freezer. He stuck a spoon in the eggs.

“Serve yourself,” he said, backing away.

Oscar dug in immediately. Bianca took a small amount of everything. Asa took what he needed and ate quietly, standing in the corner, facing the island. Cas even took a few blueberries and sausage.

Zara stepped into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. “What’s going on?” she asked around a yawn.

He took in her pink pajamas and huge hair and smiled. It didn’t matter which version he got of her—pajamas and bedhead, full glam red carpet, jeans and tee—he was into it in a big way.

“Just having breakfast,” he said. He pulled his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “I have to go to work soon. You want a cup of coffee?” He reached into the cupboard for another cup.

“You have to work today?” Zara asked. The disappointed lilt in her voice hit a spot in between his ribs.

He started the coffee. She came to stand right by him, resting her lower back against the counter. Her hip bumped against his thigh and stayed. He didn’t move away.

“I will be home later. What are you guys doing today?” he asked, trying to keep his eyes on hers and not let them drift to her mouth.

Zara shrugged. “We can’t really go anywhere so we’ll probably just hang out here.”

“Not a bad day,” he replied.

She nodded in agreement, her expression still sleepy and unfocused. He poured half and half into her coffee, stirred it, and handed it over.

“There’s food. I’m not sure it’s enough for everyone.” He shot a look at Oscar who was going back for seconds. “But I can bring home more groceries tonight if you just text me what you need.”

“Thanks,” she said. Their eye contact held for longer than a few seconds and he licked his lips. Her gaze dropped to his mouth aaaaaand it was time for him to go.

ASA: do you have stuff to make cookies with your sister?

ZARA: Let me check

ZARA: No. We’re out of eggs. I wonder how that happened.

ASA: *angel emoji*

ASA: I’ll bring home cookie supplies tonight. Do you need anything else?

ZARA: No, my dad and Renata are going to the store later. They want to have a tamalada and I know they’re going to make too many because my dad is always worried about me not eating enough *eye roll emoji*

ASA: … what’s a tamalada?

ZARA: it’s a tamale making party. They’ll make like 100 and fill the freezer and leave town. They’ve done it before. And then Dad will call every other day to make sure I eat them and don’t let them go to waste.

ASA: I have tomorrow off

ZARA: you’re making tamales

ASA: yes I am

ZARA

She loved her family. Like, really loved, down to the depths of her being, adored them.

But their timing could not have been worse.

Or maybe they’d showed up just in time, saving her from whatever was about to happen with Asa.

Because holy shit that kiss.

How were his lips so soft? His mouth so warm and intoxicating?

She wanted more. She wanted to kiss him and kiss him and kiss him and then kiss him some more.

Kissing was her favorite. She’d forgotten that somewhere along the way. And she had missed kissing. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d been good and kissed. It could have been years. How sad was that?

What if he didn’t want the same? What if it had been wine and mixed signals and she had read into something that wasn’t there? Those were all the thoughts that had been racing through her mind the moment her lips had touched his and electricity had shot through her.

She had questions she didn’t want to ask with her family present. They would have to wait.

But for what it was worth, Asa wasn’t acting like he regretted it. She was going to take that as a good sign and try to be patient.

Their text exchange earlier solidified her belief that no matter how the conversation went about The Kiss, they were okay. He wasn’t freaking out and hiding.

She tried not to read into that either. But it was weird, right? He used to freak out all the time. The night of the NMAs he’d had a panic attack.

But kissing her hadn’t registered the same way?

No. Nope. Nu-uh. She wasn’t thinking about it. She wasn’t going to analyze any of it until she could talk to him.

Besides, every time she got lost in the memory of the kiss her sister threw something at her. The items had started soft: a sock, a scrunchie, a pillow. And were now getting more dangerous: the remote, an empty water bottle, a shoe.

She’d have plenty of time to relive it later. Or she assumed so. Her fam was only going to be there for two days. And who knew when they’d get uninterrupted time like this again? Between her schedule, her dad’s job, Renata’s job, and the media frenzy that could pop up at any time, they usually snuck in as many tiny visits a year as they could.

And she loved every single one of them.

Though she did find herself checking the time as it got closer to when Asa normally got home.

Was it weird that she wanted him to hang out with her family? For them to hang out with him?

“Have you been writing?” her father asked when they all ended up in the music room after dinner.

“A little,” she confessed.

Renata sat on the floor with a glass of wine in her hand. “Are you excited to make tamales tomorrow?” she asked with a glint in her dark eyes.

Zara couldn’t help smiling.

Her dad and Renata had met at a tamalada thrown by Renata’s mom. They had lived in the same neighborhood and the single father with the overly talkative little girl drew a lot of attention.

Renata’s mom—or Abuela as all the kids in the hood referred to her, because she treated them all like her own—had decided to make sure Tony and Renata were stationed next to each other for three tamaladas in a row. By the fourth one, Tony had asked Renata on a date, Abuela offered to babysit Zara who had been only seven at the time.

Zara had thought Renata was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She still did. With her dark, dark eyes, bronze skin, constant smile, and thick black hair. Her dad never had a chance.

Bianca came along a year later. They were married a few months after that. Oscar was born on their one-year anniversary.

Renata was the closest Zara had ever had to a mom. She had never treated her any differently than her other children. It never mattered that Zara wasn’t hers by blood, she’d always felt loved and cared for. Which would forever be something she strived to do for others.

Sometimes Zara wondered about her other half siblings. The ones she’d never met. Maybe someday she would try to reach out to them. But not now when she’d have to go through the woman who had abandoned her and her dad when she was less than a year old.

Maybe she would invite them over for a tamalada. It was tradition after all.

“Zara, my love,” her dad said in a tone she recognized immediately. He took Renata’s wine glass and set it on the nearby table. “Would you do me a huge favor?” he asked, reaching for Renata’s hand. He tugged her gently to her feet.

Zara slid onto the piano bench, snickering at the twin eye rolls from her siblings.

Their dad did this. He loved to be mushy with Renata and the more it annoyed the younger kids, the more he did it.

“Would you play our song?” he asked, pulling Renata into his arms.

Maybe this was why Zara had such hope for long term love. Because this was the standard that had been set.

“I’ll sing.”

Her head swung over in time to see Asa enter the room. She had no idea how long he’d been there. Obviously long enough to know what was going on. He shot her a wink (yes, a fucking wink) and crossed to the chair she’d sat in last night. He picked up the Fender Stratocaster and plugged it in.

Renata and her dad barely noticed as they were already dancing without the music anyway.

But Bianca’s eyebrows were in her hairline as her gaze bounced from Asa to Zara and back again.

Zara was still stuck on the wink to be honest. But also, did he look different?

Hmm. He almost seemed…happy?

He quickly fiddled with the settings on the guitar that he probably knew better than anyone and then looked to her to start.

Which she did.

He came in at the exact right time ( how? They hadn’t rehearsed or even talked about playing this one together) and then his voice…

Electricity buzzed along her skin, across her shoulders and down her arms. When the chorus started, she automatically sang the harmony.

Again. Full. Body. Chills.

Like the day they had sung while painting Nikki’s upstairs, their voices joined effortlessly.

He even did the Richie Sambora guitar solo!

It was a good thing Zara was a fucking professional otherwise her jaw would be resting on the keys and hindering her participation. But since she was a fucking professional, she not only held it together, but she gave it her fucking all.

Was she swearing too much?

Also, she should mention the eye contact. The heavy eye contact between her and Asa. On one hand, it did things to her little heart that would make another person order an EKG. But on another, more mentally stable hand, it anchored her.

The song ended and still she sat, staring at Asa. He, being a fully functioning adult without all of her heart hiccups, behaved like they did this shit all the time. He spoke to her parents, showed Oscar the guitar, laughed at something someone said.

A throat clearing near her shoulder turned her head.

Bianca had slid onto the piano bench with her.

She met her sister’s eyes and hoped like hell Bianca wouldn’t say anything embarrassing. The girl had been a wild card since conception.

“We gonna make cookies or what?” Bianca asked in the most flat, bored way possible.

“The eggs are in the fridge,” Asa said, having stood up and come closer.

“Thanks,” Zara mumbled, now finding it difficult to look him in the eye. So she looked at Bianca. “It’s kinda late…”

“Nonsense,” Bianca said, slipping off the bench. She stood before Asa and looked him up and down, unimpressed. “You wanna make cookies, Tall, Dark, and Handsome?”

Asa’s chin jerked back as a smile tugged at his lips. He shot a look to Zara.

“I heard you really know how to, ah, brown the butter,” Bianca said in a way that made it seem like she meant something overly scandalous.

Asa pressed his lips together and Zara sighed.

Maybe she would smother her sister in her sleep later.

ASA

He knew Bianca asking him to join them for cookie making wasn’t because the teenager wanted to bond with him. It didn’t even mean she liked him. It was a test.

One he didn’t know if he could pass. Mostly because he didn’t understand the rules but he knew that not participating was a guaranteed failure.

Tony and Renata passed on making cookies and went to bed early. It was only nine locally but ten their time.

Oscar slid onto a stool at the island and declared he would be the official taste tester.

And Asa decided his best bet would be honesty. Whatever Bianca threw at him, he wouldn’t hide from it. Even if it made him look bad. Which was a very real possibility.

Everything had been going fine. They’d gotten out the ingredients, the measuring cups and spoons, all the bowls they’d need.

Bianca played it all very lowkey. The only hint that something was coming was the underlying tension in the kitchen.

She waited until they were scooping balls of dough onto the cookie sheet before finally going for it.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Asa glanced up to find Bianca’s shrewd gaze on him.

“ Bianca, ” Zara whispered, sounding embarrassed.

“What? I’m nosey. Sue me,” Bianca replied, unapologetic.

Asa chuckled. “No.” His eyes flicked to Zara for a beat. Bianca noticed.

“How recent was your last relationship? I want months and years.”

“Bianca Riley Rossi,” Zara said, no longer messing around.

Bianca, unfazed by her sister’s ire kept her serious gaze on Asa.

He didn’t mind the third degree. Honestly it was nice to know her sister was looking out for her; he had nothing to hide. Not anymore. This was all information Zara should have anyway. Assuming of course that that kiss wasn’t just a kiss but was a starting place for something new for both of them.

“I had one serious girlfriend. Gemma. We met in high school, broke up when she went to college?—”

“You didn’t go to college?” Bianca asked.

“I did.” He frowned, scooping into the dough again. He placed it on the tray. “I stayed local. I never finished my degree because I thought I was gonna be a rock star.”

“And then what happened?”

“She came back and we reconnected.” His mind drifted over the hazy memories. He didn’t think about Gemma much anymore. It was sad in a way, at one time he thought she’d been his endgame. And now he barely thought about her. “We were together three years?”

And that was it.

He’d dated but nothing long term or serious.

“Do you miss her?”

“Nope.” Which was also sad. He probably wouldn’t even recognize her if he saw her.

“Why did you break up?” Bianca asked.

Zara growled and he suppressed a smile.

“Hmm, well.” He thought about how to answer that. “It didn’t work for a lot of reasons. I think I was more invested than she was after a certain point.” Did he need to mention how she’d taken Shelby’s side every time something happened? How she and Shelby were still besties? Probably not.

“Were you in love?” Bianca asked, her voice sounding funny.

“I was,” he said, not looking up. “I was all in and she…” He snorted, thinking of how gone he’d been for Gemma. The shock he’d felt when he realized she didn’t feel even a fraction of what he felt. “It was real for me.”

What else was there to say?

“Let’s get these in the oven,” he said, picking up the full cookie sheet.

It must’ve been enough to satisfy Bianca for the moment because the next question was directed at Zara.

“What happened with you and Mandy?”

Zara snorted. “Why?”

“Because it’s all over social media that you two had a falling out.”

Asa honestly didn’t care who Zara’s famous friends were. It wasn’t a world he would ever want to spend any extended time in, so the less he knew the better. Mandy wasn’t a name he was familiar with.

Zara arched an unconcerned eyebrow and nodded. “I mean, I kicked her out of the house. So there’s that.”

Bianca cackled and hopped onto the counter.

“Not a fan of Mandy’s, I take it?” Asa asked, leaning his back against the counter opposite Bianca and crossing his arms.

“God, no,” Bianca exhaled.

“You never like my friends,” Zara said with one eye narrowed at Bianca.

“Not true,” Bianca replied matter of fact. “I like Nikki and Sabine and Sunshine.” Bianca’s eyes flicked to Asa and back. “I don’t like liars is all.”

But she liked Nikki, Sabine, and Sunshine. Good. They were good people.

“Mandy and Logan slept together,” Zara said.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Asa’s gaze bounced from Zara to Bianca to Oscar, trying to figure out who he should be paying attention to.

“I’m gonna kill her,” Bianca said so quietly that it sounded like it was a promise meant only for her own benefit.

Zara shrugged one shoulder, pretending like it didn’t still hurt when he knew her well enough to know that it did.

“How has Logan made it this far without completely imploding his career?” he asked into the stillness.

“His team is really good at their job,” Zara replied.

“How do you…?” he started asking without thinking about who was around. “ Cope with all that shit? I had one bad experience and it completely wrecked me.”

She lifted those amber gold eyes to his and gave a slow blink with her dark lashes. “I use music to process the world. It keeps me sane. It keeps me happy.”

Asa’s eyebrows dipped at her words. Something about them sounded like a trumpet through the caverns of his soul.

From the moment they’d met she’d been showing him the way out of his own self-imposed prison.

He thought about the song he’d written while he’d been living there. The words that had started to float through his mind again like they used to. No. Not like they used to. It was different this time. The words were changed now. Stronger, more sincere, better.

He owed her.

He owed her everything.